Mother’s milk is the ideal food for your baby’s full development during the first six months. It is the basic nutrition of a one-month-old baby, and in the next 6 months, too. At this age, babies do not need additional fluids in the form of water, herbal teas, or juices. Breast milk compensates for all needs. With it, the baby gets all the necessary biologically active and nutrient-dense substances. Mother’s milk is perfectly adapted to the peculiarities of digestion and metabolism of each child. It contains not only carbohydrates, fats, and protein in the required quantity, but also such important substances as carnitine, taurine, inositol, and polyamines which are essential for the formation and development of the baby’s nervous system and the photoreceptors of the retina.
What to do when a mother has no breast milk?
Sometimes there is a need for artificial nutrition for the baby. This happens if a woman for one reason or another cannot breastfeed (complete absence of milk, a serious illness of the baby or the mother herself), or simply does not want to do so. Artificial feeding is when the baby eats formula completely, or the proportion of breast milk is less than 1/5 of the daily food intake. In this case, it is necessary to choose the most useful baby formula.
A highly adaptable formula, which is as close as possible to the composition of breast milk, is the best alternative. They are specially designed for feeding babies from the first days of life, and they can be used in the absence or lack of breast milk. Such food contains prebiotics and nucleotides, which improve the psychomotor development of the baby, normalize the intestinal microflora and strengthen the child’s immune system.
Milk formula should contain vitamins and minerals. It is based on natural, preferably organic cow’s or goat’s milk. The product must meet all modern requirements for baby food and relevant quality certificates. The excellent dairy formula does not contain GMOs, preservatives, flavorings, and palm oil.
Introducing complementary foods to your baby’s diet
The diet of infants consists mostly of mother’s milk or milk formula. But after 5-6 months, you need to expand the baby’s menu, gradually accustoming her to other foods. In the second half of life, breast milk can no longer cover all the needs of a growing body in the necessary micro-and macronutrients.
The child’s nutrition by month looks like this:
– 6 months. Given an iron-fortified oatmeal (buckwheat, rice, corn) on the signs of anemia, fruit and vegetable purée. They should be given 1-2 times a day, the volume is gradually increased. Oatmeal from several bowls of cereal can be introduced, when the baby is already familiar with each of them individually. They can be added to fruits and vegetables. Oatmeal for adults is prohibited.
– 6-9 months. Meat is introduced: chicken, veal, wings, lean pork, and turkey. At first, it should be given in the shredded form, starting with 5 grams, and over time you can also give it in pieces. Children under one year should not be given sausages and other sausage products, because they contain a lot of salt. At this age, soft cottage cheese is also introduced. It is important to remember that you should not give two new products at the same time, the baby must be well accustomed to one at first.
– At 7 months of age, the egg yolk is introduced. At first, it is given in an amount of 1/8, with a gradual increase to half in 10-12 months.
– At 8-10 months of age, breastfeeding complementary foods include the introduction of fish purée (from 10 grams).
– 9-12 months. The baby can actively try large chunks of food.
– After 12 months, the baby can be given egg white, but it is important to remember that it often provokes allergies. Therefore, if you are making an optimal diet for children, the menu should not contain it until one year of age.
When introducing complementary foods, fruit is better given after vegetables, because often, after trying the sweet taste, children refuse vegetables. You can mix several ingredients if your baby is used to each one separately. Spicy, spicy vegetables and fruits should not be introduced.
How often should complementary foods be given? A child of 8 months should be given it 3 times a day, and at 9-11 months – 4 times. From 12 months of age, a drinking cup may be used.
We are now one year old. How should we continue to eat?
To get all the necessary nutrients for the body, food 1-year-old child should continue breast milk or adapted formula, and gradually expand the diet. A mandatory component of food should always be fruits and vegetables.
Feeding should be carried out with a frequency of 5 times a day. Keep in mind, developing a diet for a 1-year-old child, the menu must contain eggs, fish and meat dishes, soft cheese and dairy products, fats, cereals, vegetables, and fruits. It is advisable to introduce vegetable oils and butter into the diet as a dressing for oatmeal, purées, and salads. Categorically prohibited spreads and margarine!
Always remember that a healthy diet baby – is the key to successful growth and development, the formation of a stable immune system, and the overall health of the future superhero!